I first discovered Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab of Ornithology earlier this summer, when I was trying to figure out the identity of a particular bird of prey in my neighborhood. After looking at a ...

Countryside living. Getting on a bit. It was only a matter of time before I gave into certain impulses: I’m curious about birdlife. It’s a curiosity that’s at risk of developing into outright ...

To stay grounded in the present moment and practice mindfulness, I've tried all the breathing exercises and meditation apps designed to help with this sort of thing. But what has helped me the most in ...

I’m not a bird watcher, but I’ve become a bird listener ever since downloading a bionic ear app to my phone. It lets me enter a different world, one where I’m surrounded not just by chirping but by ...

Before the summer sun sends a sliver of light over the horizon, the dawn chorus begins. It is still dark and wood thrushes and pewees, cardinals and robins are singing, their melodies punctuated by ...

Spring is here, and the air is full of birdsong. The Merlin Bird ID app tells you what type of birds you’re hearing … plus it’s quick, easy and free. With this software from the Cornell Lab of ...

The Great Backyard Bird Count, held February 14-17, encourages people to observe and count bird species in their area. Participants can use the Merlin Bird ID app and report their findings through the ...

Next to insects, birds sadly seem to get short shrift from humans. We remain powerfully drawn to scenes of lions hunting in the Kalahari desert or rhinos jousting in eastern India, but remain mostly ...